So it all started with me looking for a blanket to spread on the living room floor for a dinner picnic. Underneath the table next to couch (still decorated with a fiber optic Christmas tree), I found this Christmas present for Steve and Corrie … Ummm, Merry Christmas Steve and Corrie!!! I think we will hand deliver it this summer! Well, while I was getting the camera to take a picture, Josiah comes trotting up holding half a cucumber with a big bite out of it an asks “Can I eat it?” The ironic thing, though, is that Kristine had just cut up the other half of the cucumber for him to eat and had already put the other half back in the fridge back in the vegetable drawer – so Josiah had to go digging through the fridge to find it.

Then Analise decided to demonstrate her tumble roll from gymnastics today — on the couch! Here she is:

That’s dinner time at the Toone’s!

On the way from the grocery store, I was checking to see what Josiah wanted for lunch.

“Would you like a roly-poly with cucumbers?”

“No, I want a roly poly with cucumbers AND a hot dog AND chicken fingers.”

I chuckled and asked, “Who do you think I am?”, thinking, possibly a short-order cook.

“You’re my MOMMY!” he said.

Yes. Yes, indeed I am. And I’m darn lucky.

My birthday last week was awesome.  Turning 33 isn’t bad at all.  In fact, I would hardly notice I’m any older if it weren’t for my “young” husband reminding me that I’m older… at least until August when he joins me at 33!

It was quite the technological birthday… I got tons and tons of greetings on Facebook (gotta love the birthday reminders they give you!), a couple birthday texts, and a techy gift I’ll tell more about later.  I got some gorgeous flowers (bottom photo) from my Mom, Dad and Kat.

Brian and I went out to Up The Creek for a yummy fish dinner, and we came back to my long-anticipated birthday cake (recipe here) with the kids and his parents.  Wednesday evening, Lindsay brought me a piece of tiramisu cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory.  YUM!  The best gift, though, was the necklace I’ve REALLY wanted from The Vintage Pearl.  It is just as gorgeous as I’d hoped it would be!  Thank you, Brian!! (And I took this picture with the manual setting on my camera… pretty impressed with myself!)

Just like last year, we had so much fun at the Day Out with Thomas at the Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum.  We didn’t buy tickets to ride the train, but there are lots of free things to do… a petting zoo, bouncy house, big bouncy slide, train tables and coloring tables, stories in a train car, balloon art, the small train, and of course, the Thomas store.

What a glorious, joyous day!  I’m overwhelmed today at the gift of new life Christ has given me.  Worship at Clearwater was AWESOME, and I am so thankful that God loves us so extravagantly that He would bridge the chasm between us with his perfect Son.  I hope all of you have had a beautiful day celebrating our Risen Lord!

Josiah loved our egg hunt in Grandma's backyard!

I attempted to get a standing photo, but it turned into who-can knock-the-other-over-with-a-sweet-hug. All my other photos have someone falling over 🙂

We played Egg Bowling for Mommy... Brian won 🙂

A couple weeks ago, we spent one of our beautiful Spring Break days with the Moons.  As usual, the kiddos had a wonderful time together, and Kim and I had a fun relaxing day sharing mom-duties.

Anna and Kim

Lauren and Analise driving around in the Jeep.

Josiah and Lauren driving around. He kept saying, "Watch out! Watch out!"

Pretty spring white flowers in our yard.

Ok, I’ve got a text file here with all kinds of tidbits I wanted to post, as well as pictures that I want to post.  But I stumbled across this beautiful post about Palm Sunday, my most favorite day in the church calendar.

Palm Sunday. The Triumphal Entry. Palm branch waving, I cry from my heart Hosanna! Lord, Save Me!

I am desperate for a Savior. I am desperate to be freed from my oppressor. I am ready to be lifted from the mirey clay and to have my feet set upon that solid Rock. No more slipping, sliding, stumbling. Just firm and steady ground beneath my feet.

Hosanna! I cry. But it is not easy, this process.

Click on over to read the rest…